GENERAL CABLES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XV, 11 October 1902, Page 918

GENERAL CABLES.

MELBA. Madame Melba’s second concert was a splendid success. The Town Hall was crammed, and much enthusiasm was shown. The booking' for Madame Melba’s series of concerts commenced on the Ist inat., when sales represented £ 1652. THE PREMITgR. The s.s. Tongariro arrived at Capetown on the 80th ult. Mr Seddon, who was a passenger iby the steamer, met with a cordial reception, and was entertained at a public luncheon. In the course of a speech at the luncheon Mr Seddon declared that every moral support should be given to the loyal Dutch by the British colonists and friendship shown towards those from whom they differed. They must make a prosperous country of South Africa, British rule ensuring a peaceful and prosperous settlement. BULGARIA. Fifty-two of the insurgent Bulgarians who broke through the Turkish cordon in- Monastir were killed and 112 wounded. The others are being hotly pursued. The Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia, Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria, and General Ignotieft participated in the celebrations in connection with the completion of the memorial church at Shipka Pass (the scene of the memorable fighting of 1877 with the Turks). The Metropolitan of Starazogcrra took a leading part In the consecration ceremony on an equality With the Russian clergy, the independence of the Bulgarian Church being thus recognised contrary to the Greek Patriarchs’ decision of 1872. The Macedonian Committee declares that ex-Colonel Jankoff, a Bulgarian, with 3000 combatants, subdivided into bands, leads the Bulgarian insurrection in Monastir, Turkey. The telegraph lines in that district are interrupted. Fourteen battalions of Turkish reserves at Salonica, twelve at Monaster, and twelve at Uskub have been summoned in connection with the revolt of Bulgarians. AUSTRALIA. The Federal House has passed the Estimates, including an additional amount of £257,000, necessitated by the refusal of a loan. This involves a total reduction of £220,000 In the amounts returned to the States. The balance will be taken from the ordinary Estimates. On the motion of Sir W. Lyne, the. House agreed with all the Senate’s amendments In the Electoral Bill, Mr. Reid protesting that it was humiliating to back down after compelling members to hold out so long. The House adjourned till Thursday, with a view of proroguing on Friday. W x AUSTRALLAN DEFENCE. Lord Brassey, formerly Governor of Victoria, advocated that some of the present Australian squadron be , retained as sea-going gunnery shipj/ for short cruises instead of continiA ous service, which, he declares, is not acceptable to Australians. He also says a force of ten thousand bushmen, under engagement for general military service, might be raised if the cost were borne by the Imperial Government. Sir W. Lyne, in submitting the Federal Defence Estimates, totalling £672,000, leas £106,000, for the auxiliary squadron, stated that he had reduced the naval vote by £26,000, and the military vote by £147,000, compared with the previous year. The reductions were largely effected by disbanding and reorganising some of the naval, and reducing and reorganising the military partially paid forces. The vote for small arms awwntml-

tion was reduced by £ 53,000, and for new rifles by £ 15,000. The plan adopted had been to get back to the expenditure before the war, during which it had been largely increased. The peace establishment of the Federal forces was 29,000 officers and men, and the war footing 44,000. They must not allow things to drift till a time of trouble come. He would have no objection to the establishment of a navy when the proper time came. The present naval force was a toy force, but it was premature altogether to talk of an Australian navy. He gave an assursu-e that he had taken precaution against raising any semblance *f authority for sending men outside the Commonwealth. The debate on the Defence Estimates disclosed that majority favoured a further reduction. The leaders of the .Labour Party and the Opposition supported the reduction of the vote to £ 700,000. Sir W. Lyne thereupon announced that he was prepared to reduce the expenditure from about December in the proportion of £62,000 yearly. Next year he would bring down Estimates with a similar reduction. On this understanding the vote was passed. THE SHIPPING COMBINE. The Morgan Shipping Combine has been incorporated at Trenton, New Jersey, under the designation of the International Mercantile Marine Company. The capital is a hundred and twenty million dollars. Mr Pierpont Morgan is not a director. Mr Clinton Edward Dawkins, who was a partner in the firm of J. 8. Morgan and Co., is chairman of the British committee. Mr W. J. Pirrie (of Harland and Wolff’s firm), and Mr Ismay, of the White Star line, are members. It is believed that they are working under an arrangement with the Cunard line. Canadian business men are satisfied that the Cunard line arrangements will safeguard Canadian interests by preventing the supremacy of the Morgan combine on the Atlantic. The New York ‘'Post” says the predominant feeling in Wall-street is that the British subsidy to the Cunard line is a severe blow at the Morgan combine. The cost of the two new Cunard steamers will be a million each. The International Mercantile Marine Company’s stock is entirely subscribed by those directly interested. The “Daily Express” states that shares do not carry voting power, for which purpose the continuity of policy is vested in Mr Morgan and four other voting trustees, namely, Messrs. Ismay and Pirrie and two Americans. Half the capital of the company will be preference stock, carrying 6 per cent, cumulative interest. The company has authorised the issue of fifteen, millions sterling 4J per cent, bonds. The “Times,” commenting on the figures, says they imply an anticipation of nearly two millions annual profit, but inward freights are very low, and economies in management are limited by the retention of separated Boards under the agreement given to Britain. It adds that our control of the Atlantic trade will be measured in the long run by the capital we invest. SHIPPING SUBSIDIES. The official details of the Government’s arrangements for subsidising the Cunard line of steamers show that' the Cunard Company entered Into a twenty years’ agreement to remain all British, and hold its entire ■fleet at the Government’s disposal for charter or .purchase. The Government lends money at 2j per eent. interest, repayable in twenty annual instalments, for the construction of two large steamers, with a speed of between 24 and 25 knots, for the Atlantic service. The Ounard Company undertakes not to unduly raise freights or give preferential rates to foreigners, in consideration for a subsidy of £150,000, dating from the time the new vessels sail. Mr Gerald Balfour, President of the Board of Trade, speaking at the Cutlers’ feast at Sheffield, detailed the Cunard agreement, and added that the Imperial Government had

also made an agreement with Mr Pierpont Morgan that for 20 years the British companies included in the Atlantic combine should remain British in name and in reality. A majority of the directors were British, and the officers, the flag, and a reasonable proportion of the crews would be British. Half the tonnage built hereafter would belong to the British directors, and would fly the British flag, and the vessels wofild be at the disposal of the Admiralty. •It was undesirable in our interests that the Americans should remain without a considerable share of the Atlantic trade. Mr Choate, the American Ambassador, who was also a guest, emphasised the community of ties binding Britain and America for the last 100 years, and hoped they would continue for another thousand. The Cunard and Morgan agreements have created a most favourable impression in Liverpool. In consequence of Mr. Balfour's announcement, a phenomenal rise in the price of Cunard shares has occurred.

THE AMERICAN COAL STRIKE. The miners’ strike in Pennsylvania (which it was reported some time agxj had been practically settled) continues, and creates almost a panic. New York and Boston are threatened with a coal famine. Three thousand strikers at Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, dynamited the colleries and building’s and roughly handled a number of non-unionists. The militia has been sent to the scene. • Coal is selling at a half-penny per pound in New York. Consequent on the high price of coal manufacturing works are running half-time. A convention of Mayors of cities has been summoned to arrange an enforced settlement of the miners’ strike. President Roosevelt, in inviting the presidents of the anthracite coal companies, and Mr. Mitchell, the president of the Miners’ Union, to confer wit-h himself, described the matter as vitally concerning the whole nation. The invitation was accepted. The State Democratic Convention’s platform adopted at Saratoga includes the national ownership of anthracite mines, with just compensation to the present owners. The price of coal in New York is affecting bakers’ prices. Americans are making large purchases of coal at Swansea and Newcastle. The coal companies are providing the elevated railroads, schools and hospitals in New York with a sufficiency of coal, and also the poor with small quantities at low prices. The counsel given by President Roosevelt at a conference to discuss the strike was limited to an appeal to humanitarian considerations, he having no powers of compulsion. The “Times’ *’ New York correspondent states that it is understood President Roosevelt has formed definite plans for working the coal mines in Pennsylvania, independently of the existing companies. The Cabinet is convinced that the plans are feasible and an extra session of Congress to discuss the matter is possible. The International Mercantile Marine Company announces having purchased in England forty thousand tons of domestic coal, which will be used in relieving the sufferings of the poor in America and supplying public institutions. President Roosevelt continues his efforts to mediate in the strike, and advises the jniners to return to work on the understanding that Congress will consider their grievances. I I’he coal strike In Pennsylvania has now lasted close on two months. Nearly all the miners are non-Eivdissh-speaking foreigners.}

SOUTH AFRICA. The Assembly has adopted the Select Committee's recommendation that a fine of £5OO imposed be restored to Mr Schorman. a member of the House, who during the war was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and a. fine for not furnishing information of the enemy’s movements. He protested his innocence at the time. Mr Chamberlain writes that the

Government is unable yet, for reasons previously stated in Parliament, to fix the war contributions of the new colonies.

The Rev. Vlou, a Dutch pastor in the Picquetberg division, in one of the western provinces, owing to his refusal to take the oath of loyalty to Great Britain, offended his flock. The churchwardens subsequently waited upon him end offered him £ 1000 to resign. In the Cape Assembly Dr. Smartt’s motion in favour of making the treason laws more stringent was negatived by 34 to 13. Lord Alverstone and the other members of the Royal Coriimission appointed to revise the sentences passed by the military courts on rebels, have sailed from the Cape on their return to England. The Imperial Government refused to extend the scope of the inquiry on the ground of the limited time at the disposal of the Commission. The Assembly debated the conduct of members of the Afrikander Bond during the war. Mr Theron, the president of the Bond, eulogised Lord Kitchener’s fairness, and declared that the Bond were determined to defend the flag, but claimed the use of the Dutch language on an equality with the French in Canada. Mr Lang moved an amendment, with tiie object of extending the scope of the proposed inquiry to all Bondsmen, and summoning the Bond to express regret at the rebellion. In the course of his speech he contrasted the admirable conduct of the Boer generals before reaching Capetown with their attitude after contact with the politicians there, and added that nobody on the Bond side, excepting Mr Theron and Mr De Waal, had admitted that the rebellion was wrong. The amendment was negatived by 35 to 24. The Ministry voted against the Bond. Mr De Waal’s motion for a select committee of inquiry was then carried without division. The “Daily Mail’s” Johannesburg correspondents states that Boer committees appointed to assess the damage to property caused by the war in the Transvaal, declare the amount is 60 millions sterling. The War Office has experimentally established two farms in the Orange River Colony for the purpose of breeding horses suitable for remounts. The farms are under the superintendence of British officers. Martial law has been abolished in Natal.

THE BOEK LEADEBS. The newspapers, in announcing that the Kaiser will give audience to the Boer generals as soldiers, urge that such a course cannot offend Great Britain, inasmuch as the Kaiser would be giving- audience to British subjects. The report that the Kaiser will grant an audience to the Boer generals has not been confirmed, but one organ, often inspired, declares that the -generals, having solemnly dissociated themselves from any political agitation or demonstration, the Kaiser will receive them if they are bearers of the British Government’s credentials. De Wet declares that the rumour as to the generals’ intentions is premature. The “Tirnee” doubts if the generals would be so imprudent as to seek an audience, and states that it is hardly to be believed that the Kaiser, who is a statesman of great experience and tact, contemplates a step which would arouse deep indignation throughout the British Empire. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, speaking at Clifton, said he hoped the Boers would not listen tn evil counsellors on the Continent, who were much more swayed by hostility to England than a desire for the welfare of South Africa. If the Boers acted wisely the day was not far distant when South Africa would, under complete self-government, be equally as loyal and powerful a bulwark of the Empire as Canada or Australia. He also advocated drastic reform in the War Office. This was impossible until army officers, like those of the navy, devoted their lives to their duties, and outside interference in regard to promotion* and appointments was abolished.

The chief soreness of Britain over the Boer mauifeato is that the generals did not take the nation frankly into their confidence. This feeling is embodied in a remark by the “Times” that if they had submitted to the British people a plain statement of their wants, supported by adequate evidence, and giving a guarantee that the funds supplied would not be misapplied to undermine what had been achieved, that charity which had never been refused to Continental nations would assuredly not be withheld to those irrevocably incorporated in the Empire. The “Times’ ” Vienna correspondent says the Emperor Francis, who Is a soldier heart and soul, has never manifested any inclination to see the generals. He is Britain’s best and safest friend on the Continent. The correspondent adds that it is noteworthy also that Anglophobia in Austria-Hungary has ail but disappeared. It is understood in diplomatic circles in Berlin that Great Britain does not object to the Kaiser granting an audience to the Boer generals, but that Britain declines to officially recognise the visit lest such recognition should be interpreted as a ratification of the statements contained in the manifesto. The Kaiser in this case would refuse the audience. Reuter’s Agency at Berlin states that official circles express regret that the proposed audience should have given umbrage to Britain. It was and is hoped that the audience, if scught, would be granted through the usual diplomatic channel, as this would tend to dissipate some of the misunderstandings between Germany and Britain, and not be injurious, but rather favourable, to Britain’s interests. “Figaro,” commenting on the proposed audience, says: “The cordiality between Britain and Germany is a frail structure. Doubtless matters will be patched up; but what a small thing the friendship of Germany is.” Commandant Kruiteinger has sailed for England on a few months’ pleasure tour. In the course of an interview he said he was thoroughly reconciled, and predicted a speedy and quiet settlement of South African affairs. A German publisher has published General De Wet's book on the Boer War. De Wet receives £ 10,000 for the book. ' The Berlin correspondent of the “Times” says that negotiations regarding the Boer generals’ audience with the Kaiser are progressing between Berlin and London. If the preliminaries cannot be arranged Chauvinistic opinion will throw the responsibility upon Great Britain and spare the Kaiser. German newspapers affirm that the Kaiser’s willingness to receive the Boer generals has bridged the gulf between him and public opinion which has existed since his visit to England and his refusal to see Kruger. The Berlin newspaper “Borsen Zeitung” says the situation in South Africa will right itself naturally unless the European anti-British agita-. tion injures the Boer cause. Andreas Andras Vandermerwe, writing in the Johannesburg “Leader,” says the generals’ appeal ought to have been accompanied by a statement showing what has become of the vast sum of bullion and gold taken out of the country by Kruger. A party of Boers, under the leadership of Mr Jooste, have arrived in Canada. They are investigating Canadian methods of farming and fruitgrowing. The “Standard's” Brussels correspondent states that Dr. Leyds will shortly be appointed a judge in the Dutch East Indies. Dr. Leyds has organised a becoming recention for the Boer generals at Taris.

DEATH OF ZOLA. M. Emile Zola, the celebrated French novelist, is dead, aged sixtytwo years. Details of the death showed that he t eturned from the country on Sunday. The house was cold and a fire was, lighted in the fireplace. The chimney smoked, so the servants lowered a metal sheet, leaving blocks of fuel to smoulder, but opened the windows, closing them again at night The indications are that the blocks

burned slowly and exhaled gas, which, accumulating in the defective chimney, penetrated the bedroonu. The servants knocked at the bedroom door, and on getting no response, entered the room, when they found M. Zola lying on the floor quite dead and Madame Zola in bed unconscious. When animation was restored Madame Zola stated that she bad a headache, and asked her husband to open the window. On proceeding to do so he fell and she fainted. Experts say the fumes were strongest near the floor. When the tidings of her husband's death was broken to Madame Zola •he shrieked and sobbed bitterly and sank into a deep stupor. Widespread regret at Zola's death is shown in Great Britain and Italy, owing to Zola having championed Dreyfus. Dreyfus visited Zola's house and viewed the coffin containing the remains. Several of Zola's friends claimed a national funeral, but an anti-Dreyfus demonstration was feared. Some of the Catholic newspapers suggest that the novelist committed suicide. The anti-Semites and Catholics express joy in their newspapers at Zola's death, and speak bitterly of the departed novelist. The Pope, it is reported, exclaimed when he heard of Zola’s death, “If Zola was the Church’s enemy, he was frank. God rest his soul." [The late Emile Zola, the most realistic of the French novelists, was hard at work up to his last days, as only recently It was stated that he was engaged on a new novel. He was a remarkably Industrious writer, and during his forty years of writing had produced a great many books, the most widely-known of which are probably those of the notorious “Nana” type. He was born in Paris in 1840. and passed his infancy in Provence with his father, the originator of the canal which bears his name at Alx. He then studied in the Lycee Saint-Louis, in Paris, and obtained employment in the publishing firm of Hachette and Co. He gave up that situation about 1866. in order to devote his attention exclusively to literature. His first works of fiction were “Contes a Ninon," 1863; “La Confession de Claude." 1865; "Le Voeu d’une Morte," 1866; “Des Mysteres de Marseille"; “Therese Raquin"; "Manet.” a biographical and critical study. 1867; "Madeline Ferat.” 1868. Subsequently he wrote his famous series of ,'political, social and physiological studies. entitled. j_.es Rougon-Al acquart. Histolre naturelie et sociale d une Famine sous le second Empire," which has been called his "Human Comedy"; the earlier volumes are entitled respectively “La Fortune des Rougon.” “La Curee," “Le Ventre de Paris," “La Conquete de Plassans," “La Faute de l’Abbe Mouret,Son Excellence Eugene Rougon," and “L’Assommoir” (1874-77). The last named volume created a great sensation, and has passed through many editions. M. Zola afterwards wrote “Une Page d’Amour” (1878), "Le Bouton de Rose." a three-act ccTSP edy played at the Palais Royal in 1878; "Nana” (1880); "Pot Bouille" (]882). His later works included “La Joie de Vivre," "Au Bonheur des Dames.” "Germinal," “L’Oeuvre,” “La Terre,” “La Bete llumaine.” "L’Argent.” “La Debacle," 1893, which vividly describes the war of 187071. and “Le Docteur Pascal." In 1888 ha was appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honour, and in 1891 was made President of the French Society of Men of Letters. During recent years Mons. Zola repeatedly offered himself as a candidate for election to the Forty Immortals of the French Academy, but that eminently conservative body of literary men repeatedly refused to receive him in its midst. He was reported to have written his little Roman Catholic Idyl "Le Reve" with a view to propitiating men who could not tolerate his realism, but. be that as it may, he was not elected in 1891, when Pierre Ix>ti was chosen instead of him. nor indeed subsequently. In 1593 M. Zola visited London on the invitation of the Institute of Journalists, whom he addressed on the subject of “Anonymity in Journalism." He was present at a reception given by the Corporation at the Guildhall. IXrrfng 1894 he published "Lourdes." a work containing lurid descriptions of the pilgrimages made to the Pyrenean town of that name. It created a great stir among certain religious circles, and when M. Zola subsequently visited Rome and sought admission to the presence of the Pope. Leo. XIII. refused him an audience. The great realist has since written “Rome." an already famous work, descriptive of the Papal court and its surroundings. Immense editions of Zola’s works have . been published, though ip many countries his translators have been prosecuted and punished as criminals by the authorities. and the sale of his works has often been prohibited on account of their ultrarealistic character.]